Folding cot



March 29, M. A DAVIS FOLDING COT Filed March 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

March 29, 1938. I M,A 2,112,454

FOLDING COT Filed March 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 29 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING COT Mansell Allan Davis, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 9, 1934, Serial No. 714,845

.. v Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in the construction, methods of folding and setting up of folding cots.

My invention relates to improvements in fold- 5 .ing cots, comprising a flexible top portion engaged to side rails which are detachable from a supporting frame, which may be folded from an extended lengthwise and crosswise position to practically a bundle of parallel bars.

My invention relates to the construction and method of extending the fabric top of a folding cot, by means of toggle joints in the cross sections of a supporting frame.

My invention relates to the construction and methods of attaching the fabric top of a folding cot so that it adapts itself to the human form.

My invention relates to the construction and method of adapting the supporting frame of a folding cot to uneven ground.

My invention relates to the details of construction and methods of attachment of the various parts of a folding cot, by which the supporting frame and detachable top can be folded or extended and set up.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of afolding cot.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the method of attaching the fabrictop of a folding-cot to the supporting side rails.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the side section of a folding cot, partially folded.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the hinge section of the side rails of a folding cot.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a leg of a folding cot showing its attachment to side rail at the top, to cross bars at the side and foot at the bottom.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a cross section of a folding cot with toggle joint in the stage of being extended.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental elevation of the channel view of a leg of a folding cot, enclosing a cross'seotion of a cross bar resting on inwardly formed flanges of said channel structure of'a leg.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental front elevation of the top of the middle leg of the side section of a folding cot.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a cross section of a folding cot partially folded.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional plan view of. a leg, thrust bar and tie rod in a folded condition;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of a leg of a folding cot showing method of attaching brace rod.

Fig. 12 is a fragmental front elevation of the lower end of one of the corner legs of a folding cot.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental sectional side elevation of a toggle joint and engaging clamp on a cross bar of a folding cot. 5

Fig. 14 is a front fragmental elevation of the crossing of two brace rods, showing the method of their pivotal engagement.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

This invention was made to meet the demand for a folding cot, light in weight, compact in size when folded and strong and comfortable when setup for use. This invention makes possible an economical folding cot to manufacture. which .15 can be quickly set up and quickly folded.

Inthe manufacture of the folding cot, two parts are assembled separately-a top or bed part and a supporting frame, Fig. 1. The top part has two parallel side rails l and 2 of channel cross section 20 construction, each consisting of two sections I and I and 2' and 2" connected pivotally by hinge links 3 and 3' respectively, which are sufliciently narrow to allow channel edges of each pair to pass each other and fold parallel compactly as shown in Fig. 4. Each side rail l and 2 straightened out and positioned parallel to each other carries a line of eyelets 4 in Fig. 2 on the, inner side of said rails relative to each other Fig. 1. These eyelets 4 are formed by loops inwire 5 extending through apertures 6 in said side rails from the inside of said channel structure. The assembly of the topportion of the folding cot comprises side rails I and 2 straightened out'and spaced apart the desired width of a cot, with the I eyelet side of the rails facing each other; between the rails l and 2 is positioned a rectangular piece of flexible fabric 1, about the length of said'side rails and slightly narrower than the distance between the side rails l and 2, with a row of eye- 40 lets 8 along each longitudinal edge of fabric 1 staggered relative to eyelets 4 along the side rails. These eyelets are formed by slits cut at the desired intervals into the hem 22 along the longitudinal edges and at right angles thereto; the ends of said slits are closed by wires 23 in the outer edge of said hem, and are removable through the open ends of. said hems 22 when it is desired to wash said fabric 1. Through eyelets 4 and 8 cord 24 is laced alternately thus engaging fabric 1 to side rails I and 2 on the respective sides of said fabric. This method of lacing a fabric bed portion to supporting side'rails, makes possible the adjustment of the cross ten sion of said fabric 1. relative to any stretching or shrinkage. The slippage of cord 24 through eyelets 4 and 8 makes the fabric bed portion I adaptable to the human form when a person is reclining upon it. The ends of the cords are conveniently engaged to the ends of side rails I and 2 by a (25) wedge shaped notch in each end thereof. The slippage of cord 24 through eyelets 4 and 8 is controlled by an occasional cross lace or knot 26 of Fig. 2. This top or bed portion, with rails I and 2 folded at hinges 3 and 3', and fabric I rolled about them makes a small light package. The side rails I and 2 have apertures 9 for receiving projections I9 near the top of legs I I, Fig. 5 when the top portion is being attached to the Supporting frame.

The supporting frame, when extended is rectangular in plan, and may be considered from two aspects, namely a plurality of cross sections and of side trusses. The cross sections of the supporting frame comprise two opposite legs II engaged to each other by means of a telescoping tie rod I3 formed of two rods coiled around each other at their inner ends at I4 and pivotally engaged at their outer ends to legs II respectively near their bottom portions Fig. 6. Positioned above cross tie rod I3 is thrust crossbar I5 having toggle joint I6 with locking clamp I'I operated by spring I8 Figs. 6 and 13 between the ends of said thrust bar I5 which are pivotally attached to legs II, one at each end of said cross bars I5. The methods of attaching tie rod I3 and cross thrust bar to the legs are shown in the detail drawing of the leg II in Fig. 5, in which cross thrust bar I5 extends into the channel of the leg structure, pivotally attached thereto by rivet 2| and is controlled against a downward movement beyond a right angle to the leg by an abutment of the end of bar I5 against the inner wall of the back of the channel structure of said leg at 20, and by inwardly formed flanges I9 Fig. 7 from the sides of the channel formed legs. Tie rods I3 are pivotally attached to flange 21 Fig. 10 projecting centrally from the back of the channel form of leg I I, so that the thrust bar I5, tie rod I3 and leg II will fold together in compact manner as shown in Fig. 10. When the cross section of the supporting frame is in use the top of the legs at each end thereof are held together against outward movement by the top part of the folding cot, and the bottom. of the legs are held by tie rods I3 against outward movement. Between these tie engagements, thrust bar I 5 with its toggle joint action applies an outward pressure to the limit of its length. With the ends of thrust bar I5 limited to a right angle in the downward movement of said bar, a very rigid construction is obtained, which holds the cot against side sway. Figure 9 shows the cross section partially folded. When folded the legs are in alignment making bundle compact.

In considering the side aspect of the supporting frame, we have, in combination with the side rails of the top portion, a plurality of trusses, comprising vertical legs I I engaged to each other adjacently by side rails I and 2 across the top of said legs, by the insertion of projections II] at the top of legs II into apertures 9 in the outer side of side rails I and 2, Figure 5, and said adjacent legs II are also attached to each other by two diagonally positioned brace rods 28 and 29 crossing and pivotally engaged to each near their centers by looping around rivet 32 which positions concaved plates 33 around said loops Fig. 14 on both sides of said crossing of brace rods 28 and 29. Each brace rod 28 and 29 pivotally engages two adjacent legs I 1 near the top of one leg and near the bottom of the other. This engagement is effected by inserting the ends of said brace rods bent at right angles into elongated slots 34 behind bafile flanges 35 on the outer face of said legs II, and giving them a quarter turn behind baffle 35 before said brace rods 28 and 29 are riveted at their crossing with their loops 36 held parallel against rotation by plates 33. This method of assembling the brace rods 28 and 29 to the legs and to each other, not only prevents the several parts from separating, but provides a pivotal and perpendicular movement to the ends of said brace rods 28 and 29, and holds them in the plane of the assembly of said trusses by means of flange baffles 35 overlapping a section of the ends of said brace rods, Figs. 11 and 12. At the top of the center leg I I the ends of said brace rods are limited in their perpendicular movement by shorter slots 31 and 31', but held to a movement in the plane of assembly by short flanges 38 and 38, Fig. 8 when they are being folded. Brace rods 28 and 29 are provided with hinges 3! between their points of crossing and their engagement to the top parts of legs I I. Fig. 3 shows brace rods 28 and 29, and legs I I assembly partially folded. When completely folded legs I I, brace rods 28 and 29, and thrust bars I5 and tie rods I3 all come together substantially parallel into a very small bundle, and when rolled into the z.-

top fabric with the folded side rails, a small package is provided for handling.

To set up the cot from a folded condition,- first take the supporting frame, open the cross sections by pulling the legs apart crosswise, then 7 holding the cross section nearest the operator, cast the rest of the frame outward, and set it down with the legs in a vertical position. Then unroll the fabric of the top portion from around the side rails, straighten out said side rails and the fabric. between them, place the channel struc- 'ture of the side rails over the tops of the legs on each side of the supporting frame, and insert projections ID at the top of the legs through apertures 9 in the side rails correspondingly. Then straighten out toggle joint I6 of the several cross sections. This communicates a spreading thrust between the side rails, which stretches the flexible fabric bed portion tov a predetermined tension. The cot is thus set up for use. It has been made adaptable to an uneven ground foundation, by means of the hinges in brace rods 28 and 29, and by the perpendicular movement of the ends of said rods, made possible in the elongated slots 34 of the end legs II of the side trusses of the supporting frame. The adaptability of the flexible fabric bed portion to the human form, by means of my method of lacing to supporting rails, provides a very comfortable cot to rest upon. The folding cot is very light in weight, made possible by the channel structure of many of the metal parts. The legs II are of double channel construction; a small channel formed in the back of the larger indicated 39 in Figures 5, 10, 11 and 12.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding cot comprising a. rectangular detachable top portion in combination with a supporting frame constructed of a plurality of crosssections, said sections having a vertical leg on each end thereof, an extensible tie rod of predetermined length when extended, one of said tie rods being pivotally connected to the vertical pair of legs of a cross-section adjacent the lower ends of the legs and a thrust bar including a toggle joint between the ends thereof, one of said bars being pivotally connected to each pair of legs of a cross-section at a point between the tie rod and the detachable top portion.

2. In a folding cot, the combination of a detachable top bed portion, and a supporting frame comprising a plurality of cross sections consisting of a cross bar of two parts each of channel formation, pivotally connected to each other at their inner ends, one part adapted to fold into the channel structure of the other part, and pivotally connected at their outer ends to legs of channel formation, into which said cross bars can fold, and an extensible tie rod pivotally connected at its outer ends to said legs, and adapted to fold into the channel structures of said cross bars and said legs.

3. In a folding cot the combination of a detachable top bed portion having longitudinal side rails, a plurality of transversely extending foldable cross sections providing supporting legs for the top bed portion, means articulately connecting said folding cross sections, said means including a pair of rods crossing each other at a point intermediate adjacent cross sections, means pivoting the rods together at said point of intersection, the portion of rods extending beyond the point of pivot being shorter than the length from the pivot to the legs of adjacent cross section and supplemental rod lengths pivoted to said short sections and to the legs of adjacent cross sections and means included in the pivotal connections between the rod portions of said articusecured adjacent the lower ends of the legs, a

hinged cross bar comprising a pair of sections, the outer ends of which are pivoted to the legs at points between the tie bar and the top bed portion, said cross bar sections being pivoted to each other whereby they may be moved into longitudinal alignment substantially parallel to the tie bar, and means for locking said cross bar sections in said position of longitudinal alignment.

5. In a folding cot the combination of a detachable bed portion, longitudinal side rails therefor, a supporting frame to which the longitudinal side rails with its top are connected, said frame including a plurality of cross frame sections, each section having a. pair of legs, an extensible tie rod of fixed length when extended and engaging the legs adjacent the lower ends to prevent them from spreading, an intermediate folding brace pivotally engaging the legs at its opposite ends intermediate the top portion'and the tie rod, said intermediate folding brace having abutments contacting the legs when the brace members are in longitudinal alignment in their bracing position whereby the brace will hold the legs against collapsing.

MANSELL A. DAVIS. 

